Salt

You probably already know that eating too much salt isn’t good for your health in general, but did you know that it could also affect your cancer risk?

Salt and cancer

Research shows that eating too much salt and salty food may increase your risk of stomach cancer.

How much salt?

Our bodies need some salt to help maintain our balance of water (hydration). Also, table salt is fortified with iodine, which you need for good health. But much of the salt we eat comes from processed food such as breakfast cereals, soups, sauces, bread, ready-made meals and snack foods (where it can be listed as sodium). We also add salt to our food at the table or in cooking.

So in general, Canadians eat more salt than they need.

Tips to cut down on salt

Read nutrition labels to help you avoid foods that are high in salt or sodium. You may be surprised to find that even foods like breakfast cereal contain salt.